Television Advertising breaks records

Television Advertising breaks records

Television advertising revenue totalled $516 million ($479m in 2001) for the 12 months to 31 December 2002. This is an increase of $37 million or 7.7 per cent over the same period in 2001 and is the highest return ever reported by the television broadcasting industry. The previous highest return was $501 million in 2000.

The New Zealand Television Broadcasters' Council, representing the television broadcast industry, said that the increase was the product of strong economic growth and successful television programming. The revenue figures are for free to air and pay television.

The NZTBC's Executive Director, Bruce Wallace commented that 2002 was a big year for television with excellent audiences for local programmes such as Mercy Peak and The Strip and news and current affairs. It was a year when viewing levels rose over the same period in 2001, growth being most evident amongst household shoppers with children and the 18-39 age group.

Competitive activity in the banking, automotive and telecommunications helped drive the increase while strong support from advertisers in the fast moving consumer products sector proved again the ability of television to build brands and influence market share.

All companies in the NZTBC reported increased returns in the highly competitive broadcasting sector. The NZTBC is made up of the four companies operating national broadcast television channels. They are CanWest New Zealand, Prime Television New Zealand, SKY Network Television and Television New Zealand.

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